Machine for rolling flanges on cylindrical bands and similar articles



C. L. CLARK MACHINE FOR ROLLING FLANGES ON CYLINDRICAL BANDS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Original Filed Aug. 6, 1936 INVENTOR. 6M1: M

Patented Jan. 7, 1941 MACHINE FOR ROLLING FLANGES ON CY- LINDRIUAL BANDS AND SIMILAR ARTI- Carl L. Clark, Warren, Ohio Original application August 6, 1936, Serial No. 94,598. Divided and this application November 1, 1937, Serial No. 172,101 r CLES 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for rolling flanges on cylindrical bands and similar annular articles and is a division of my copending application, Serial No. ,5 8, filed August 6, 1936. i

This invention is particularly adapted for rolling flanges on annular base rings for washing machines for household use. These-base rings, so called, usually support the washing machine tub as well as the mechanism of the machine and it is the usual practice to attach the legs thereto. Further, this invention is of general application for rolling flanges on cylindrical bands and similar annular articles of relatively thin metal ranging for instance, from thirteen to twenty gauge United Statesstandard and is also adaptable for expanding or contracting portions of the walls of such cylindrical or annular articles, without folds or wrinkles, in a novel and rapid manner. 7

Present methods of flanging such annular articles which consist of either rolling or spinning are slow and inefficient because rapid movement of the flanging rolls or tools results in fold and wrinkles forming because the metal in the flanges is not grippedor firmly held. Accordingly the flanging or spinning operation must proceed slowly.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a new improved and economical method for forming flanges on cylindrical bands or similar annular articles without folds or wrinkles forming in the flanges.

It is a further object of the present invention to expand or contract portions of the walls of such articles, other than the marginal portions, in a novel and rapid manner.

Moreover it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and improved apparatus for flanging the marginal portions of annular bands and to expand or contract portions of the walls of such bands, other than the margins, in a rapid and inexpensive manner Without folds or wrinkles.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the method, apparatus, parts, and combinations which comprise the present invention the nature of which is set forth in the following statements. preferred embodiments of which are set forth in the following description and which are pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part thereof.

The nature of the improved method of the present invention, as applied to the margins of annular bands, may be stated as including the steps of holding a hand against axial displacement; of drawing or bending the margins of the band around edges of an intermediate supporting roll by means of pairs of forming rolls which grip the edge portions of the band securely and thereafter move in unison radially with respect to the band and in said movement to form flanges on the band, and permitting one roll of each pair of flanging rolls to yield radially with respect to the band as the flanging operation progresses.

The nature of the improved apparatus of the present invention may be stated as including means to hold an annular band against axial displacement, an intermediate supporting roll positioned to engage one face of the band at its middle portion, of pairs of forming rolls to grip both faces of the margins of the band and thereafter to move in unison radially and in said movement to form flanges on the band, one roll of each pair of rolls being urged against one face of the band by means of a pressure device and the other rollof each pair of rolls being moved into engagement with the other face of the band and away therefrom by means of a motion device, the band being caused to rotate about its axis by the intermediate roll and the forming rolls.

Preferred embodiments of the improved apparatus for accomplishing the improved method are illustrated in v the accompanying drawing forming part thereof, in which Fig. l is an exterior partial side elevation of a rolling machine for rolling the flanges of a cylindrical band, with the rolled band shown in cross-sectional view;

Fig. 2 is an exterior front elevation, showing the band with flanges completely rolled;

Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial view of the rolls in Fig. 1 showing the cylindrical band in position for rolling the flanges;

Fig. 5 is a partial view of the rolls in Fig. 4 with the flanges partially rolled;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a band prior to rolling; the ends of which have been butt welded and the welding flash removed; and

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of a gear tooth illustrating the type of teeth employed on the ears of the rolling machine.

The shaft I carries roll 2 mounted to rotate therewith.

The shaft 3 carries rolls 4, 5 and 6 and gears I and 8 mounted to rotate therewith;-

The cradle I3 carries rolls I4, I5 and two rolls I6 on which the hollow rolls 9 and ID are supported. One roll I6 is mounted opposite roll I4 and the other roll, not shown, is mounted opposite roll I5. The cradle I3 is yieldingly supported by compressed air in the cylinder in bracket I! which is fixedly attached to the frame of the rolling machine.

The gears 1, 8, II and I2 have their teeth rounded as shown in Figure 7 so that, as rolls 4 and 6 travel downward to make contact with the cylindrical band, easy meshing is assured.

The hollow or annular rolls 9 and III on which gears II and I2 are mounted to rotate therewith are caused to rotate on rolls I4, I5 and It, by gears I and 8 mounted on shaft 3.

These gears, Nos. I, 8, II and I2 may be dispensed with but as shown are apositive means for rotating rolls 9 and I0. When the above named gears are omitted, flanges attached to or abutting against the outside faces of rolls 9 and III are used to position the band against axial movement at the start of the flanging operation. These flanges are indicated in Figs. 4 and?) and are numbered I9 and 20.

Shaft I is mounted in the frame of the machine and is driven by a source of power and thru a mechanism, not shown, and carries the intermediate supporting roll 2 mounted to rotate therewith. Shaft 3 is mounted parallel to shaft I in a bracket attached to the frame of the machine, said bracket can be either hinged to move toward and away from shaft I in a rocking motion, or slidably mounted to move radially with respect to the band I8 by a mechanism not shown but which is conventional in the type of beading or rolling machine shown in Fig. 1. Shaft 3 is driven from a source of power, not shown, and thru a train of gears or other suitable means to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of shaft I, and preferably at the same speed thereof. Shaft 3 carries rolls 4, 5 and 6 and gears I and 8 mounted to rotate therewith, and transmits rotation to the rolls 9 and I thru gears I, 8, II and I2,

Referring now to Fig. 1, the operation of rolling the flanges starts with the placing of the band I8 as shown in Fig. 4. The shaft 3 carrying rolls 4, and 6, which are mounted thereon and rotate therewith, is caused to travel downward by a feed mechanism not shown. At the moment that rolls 4 and 6 make contact with band I8 the gears rotate rolls 9 and It. The pressure exerted on rolls 9 and I0 from the air cylinder in bracket I'I, through cradle I3 and rolls I4, I5, and I6 causes the flanges of the band to be gripped firmly and thus prevents wrinkles forming in said flanges as they are rolled.

The drawing shows the flanges of the band contracted, but they can beexpanded with equal facility by locating the band so that its axis is above shaft I instead of below it as ,Shown.

Further, it is apparent that portions of the wall of the band, other than the margins can be contracted or expanded by the mechanism shown. For instance, the horizontal portions of the flanges of band I8, as shown in Fig. 5, can be extended or widened, in which case flanges i9 and 20 would be moved farther apart and rolls 9 and I0 increased in width. The cross-section of the band after rolling. would be generally as shown in Fig. 5 with modifications in contour as may be desired.

The air cylinder shown in bracket I1 is not the only means of cushioning rolls 9 and III which can be used. A spring or springs could be used instead either mounted directly under cradle I3 or to the rear through a fulcrumed arm.

The scope of the invention is not limited to any of the details shown or described but includes embodiments of the broad idea, as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine adapted for flanging the marginal portions of metallic cylindrical bands and other similar annular articles, the combination comprising; a supporting roll adapted to engage the middle portion of one face of a band, said roll being held against axial and transverse movement; pairs ofrolls adapted to engage both faces of the marginal portions of the band, one of each pair of rolls being designated a forming roll and the other of each pair a pressure roll; means for rotating the forming and supporting rolls; means to hold the band against longitudinal movement, said means including flanges abutting the outside faces of the pressure rolls and mounted concentric therewith; yielding pressure means to urge the pressure rolls against the band; means to rotate said pressure rolls, said means including driving gears mounted concentric with the forming rolls and driven gears mounted concentric with the pressure rolls to rotate therewith; and means for moving the forming rolls radially with respect to the band and radially toward the pressure rolls to grip the margins of the band therebetween and thereafter to move said forming and pressure rolls in unison to form flanges on said band about the edges of the supporting roll.

2. In a machine for flanging the marginal portions of metallic cylindrical bands and other similar articles, the combination including: a supporting roll adapted to engage the middle portion of one face of a band, said roll being held aganist axial and transverse movement; pairs of rolls adapted to engage both faces of the marginal portions of the band, one roll of each pair of rolls being designated a forming roll and the other roll of each pair a pressure roll; means'for rotating the forming and supporting rolls; means to hold the band against longitudinal movement, said means including flanges abutting the outside faces of the pressure rolls and mounted concentric therewith; yielding means mounting the pressure rolls for radial movement with respect to the band; and means for moving the forming rolls radially with respect to the band and radially toward the pressure rolls to grip the margins of the band therebetween and thereafter to move said forming and pressure rolls in unison to form flanges on said band about the edges of the supporting roll,

said pressure rolls being caused to yield radially with respect to the band by the pressure exerted on said band by the forming rolls while the flanges are being formed.

3. In a machine .adapted for flanging metallic cylindrical bands and other similar annular.

articles, the combination including: a roll adapted to engage one face of a band, said roll being held against axial and transverse movement; a pairof rolls adapted to engage both faces of one margin of the band, one roll of said pair of rolls being radially yieldable with respect to the band; a flange abutting the outside face of the radially yieldabl e roll ofsaid pair of rolls; yielding pressure means mounting the radially yieldable roll of said pair of'rolls' for radial movement with tioned roll; and means engaging with the band to prevent tipping movement of the same with respect to the first named roll; said radially yieldable roll being caused to yield by the pressure exerted on the band by the other roll of 5 said pair while the flange is being formed.

CARL L. CLARK. 

